That’s right folks, finally an update after all time. I have no excuse for the delay; work and various other things have taken up my time, but part of its also the third act being more action heavy plot elements (getting characters from point A to point B) which is also trickier for me to write than the character focus and dialogue work which I love doing. I’ve also edited my previous update as well, inserting the confrontation between the Jedi and the Mandalorians outside the nebula and Phakerem’s realization about the former’s plan since I finally figured out when I wanted the scene to happen. The tone of Nellith’s scene with Kenobi has also been altered, as her sad lament felt less impactful than an undercurrent of cold fury which feels like it adds greater stakes.
I know that that the following new material is not the big update a lot of you (and myself) were hoping for, but I do feel like I’ve got my momentum back, and hopefully this can be a small preview of the Episode II conclusion that I’m going to try and have regular updates on in the next couple of weeks. Thanks again for your continued interest in this silly little project of mine, your feedback has been invaluable (and great motivation for finishing it), my apologies for the long delay, and without further ado, the continuing story of Star Wars Episode II: A Galaxy’s Fury.
Cut to resistance forces near the power center, lying crouched. From Fordala’s communicator, Carima asks Fordala how quickly before Coalition troops are alerted to the plan. He replies not much time, but adds that they do have the benefit of the Mandalorians not expecting an attack this suicidally stupid. She replies “Trust me,you’d be surprised at how well that works as an advantage.” The older soldier brings up that none of the resistance can afford to help her if her rescue plan goes south.
Cut to Nivir hiding among various cruisers. With acceptance settling on her face, she tells him that if they’re in trouble no amount of help will make a difference. Fordala mentions when the time’s right they’ll launch the attack. He sighs.“You know if we all make it out of here, I swear that boy of yours is getting a hit right to the face.” Without a beat she answers back, “Get in line commander, I owe him that honor first.” There’s a small scoff as he tells her not to keep up that kind of talk; he might begin to enjoy her company. She wishes him luck and switches off the communicator.
With the last of Skywalker’s platoon along side her, Carima scans the area and examines the sleek skyscraper close by. One of the Republic soldiers brings up several ways of getting, suggesting they detonate a hole, steal a ship to get on the roof, or draw initial forces out of the building while sneaking in. She spots a spice transport speeder being let into the structure with several more on their way over. “How about we try the front door.”
Cut to inside the skyscraper where a similar speeder with vehicle skirt moves slowly into the building. Various clone troops in numerous positions guide the process along with one nearby giving it a routine scan. Immediately however a small beeping noise comes from the clone’s device and she reports to the others various warm heat sources within the spice load. The commander present orders the others to ready their weapons as they prepare to open the hatch, with one of the clones muttering about the desperation of the resistance.
Clones climb the vehicle and open up the top hatch, seeing only dull red lim spice down below. The commander still on the ground gives them a small nod, leading the group to all shoot into the opening, but doing little more than blasting the supply. The lack of reaction causes confusion at first, with one of the clones starting to say she saw some kind of electronic device before she’s cut off by a large explosion that blasts off inside the spice.
Instantly annihilating the nearby soldiers, the others can only barely react when most are hit by blaster fire from low on the ground. Left alone among the survivors, the commander attempts to sound an alarm but is knocked out by a stun beam right to his torso. All immediate enemies gone, from underneath the skirts of the half destroyed speeder crawl Carima and company; dirty and roughed up from the explosion, yet still intact.
The former quickly dusts herself off and gives some small thanks “Body temperature to discharge in 30 seconds flat; bless the makers of the modern thermal detonator. “ A Republic lieutenant grabs the knocked out commander as Carima points to the a large scale service elevator and the platoon quickly moves in. Nivir looks at her scanner tracking Anakin’s location, hiding most of her anxiousness as best she can.
Inside the lift the lieutenant punches in a high floor number with his free hand and the computer asks for a security retina scan. He forces open the eye of the still stunned commander into the scanner and after a few tense moments, its accepted. With a heave, the latter’s knocked out body is tossed out just as the doors close. A Republic soldier to the lieutenant’s left pips up that they can’t believe that worked and he replies that’s the downside of mass produced clones at different positions: “Same eye, same clearance.”
As the elevator car speeds its way up, one of them reluctantly asks what they’ll do if Skywalker is indeed dead. She meets the gazes of the others and starts to respond, but try as she might Carima has no answer. Only the low hum of the lift breaks the silence.